Tribological Properties of Cyperus Pangorei Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites(Friction and Wear Behaviour of Cyperus Pangorei Fibre/Polyester Composites)

ABSTRACT

This paper investigated the tribological behavior of natural fiber-reinforced polyester composites. The Cyperus pangorei (CP) fiber and polyester were used as a reinforcement material and thermosetting matrix, respectively. The composites were fabricated using compression molding technique with 40 wt% of CP fiber. Technological properties such as density, hardness, and wear of the composite specimens were determined. The density and shore D hardness of the prepared specimens were 1.0176 g/cc ± 0.106 and 87.25 ± 4.1, respectively. A pin-on-disk wear test machine was used to conduct the dry sliding wear test with constant sliding distance; various sliding velocities of 1, 2, and 3 m/s; and a range of contact pressure of 0.13–0.38 MPa. After the wear test, the surface roughness of worn specimens was measured. The specific wear rate increased when the applied load was increased on the specimen. A non-linear decrease in coefficient of friction was observed with the combination of increasing contact pressure and decreasing sliding velocity. The morphological analyses were carried out using a scanning electron microscope for the worn specimens.

摘要

研究了天然纤维增强聚酯复合材料的摩擦学性能. 用Cyperus pangorei (CP)纤维和聚酯分别作为增强材料和热固基体. 复合材料是用40%重的CP纤维采用压模技术制备的. 测定了复合材料试样的密度、硬度和磨损等工艺性能。制备的样品的密度和肖氏硬度分别为1.0176g/cc±0.106和87.25±4.1。采用圆盘磨损试验机上的销轴，以恒定的滑动距离、1、2和3 m/s的不同滑动速度、0.13-0.38 MPa的接触压力范围进行干滑动磨损试验. 磨损试验后，测量了磨损试样的表面粗糙度. 当施加在试样上的载荷增大时，比磨损率增大.随着接触压力的增加和滑动速度的降低，摩擦系数（COF）呈非线性下降.用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对磨损试样进行了形态分析。

KEYWORDS:

• Natural fiber
• hardness
• surface roughness
• specific wear rate
• coefficient of friction
• wear

关键词:

• 天然纤维
• 硬度
• 表面粗糙度
• 比磨损率
• 摩擦系数
• 磨损

Acronyms

ASTM	=	American Society for Testing and Materials
COF	=	coefficient of friction
CPFPC	=	Cyperus pangorei fiber-reinforced polymer composites
CPF	=	Cyperus pangorei fiber
HRC	=	Rockwell hardness (C-scale)
NFRPCs	=	natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites
PLA	=	poly (lactic acid)
SEM	=	scanning electron microscope

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely appreciate the authorities of Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Tamil Nadu, India for supporting this research by providing fabrication facility.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Republic of South Africa Young Scientist Start-up Scheme [YSS/2015/001353].